SEATTLE — The U.S. men’s national team will face Belgium on Monday, July 6 in a World Cup round of 16 match.
The conversation around the match has been dominated by FIFA’s last-minute decision to allow Folarin Balogun to play, nullifying a one-game suspension from his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With Balogun available, the USMNT has an improved shot to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002, and only the second time ever.
But Belgium won’t be an easy out, despite a subpar tournament so far. The Red Devils staged an epic comeback in the round of 32 against Senegal, scoring twice in the final minutes before finding the winner in extra time.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live coverage of Monday’s match at Lumen Field.
That’s it for a very poor first half from the USMNT, which is lucky to only be down a goal. It was a hesitant performance filled with giveaways and defensive lapses.
Belgium could really be home and dry by now. Lukébakio squanders a free header off a free kick, heading well wide when completely unmarked.
Aside from that free kick goal, the U.S. is still really struggling to maintain possession or generate chances. Conceding that second goal was a major blow.
The game is even for just a minute as Belgium strikes back! De Ketelaere gets his second of the game, heading home over Ream after Trossard beats Dest and gets a cross off from the left side. It’s 2-1 again.
Against the run of play, the U.S. has an equalizer! Tillman has scored from a free kick for the second straight game. This one took a wicked deflection off Vanaken’s head but the U.S. will care not one bit.
Pulisic coming in to try and see more of the ball, and his pass to Balogun wins the U.S. a free kick in a dangerous area. Shooting opportunity here.
The break comes at a good time for the U.S., which has come out inexplicably flat here. It could be down more than a goal and has yet to trouble Belgium’s back line. The intensity is lacking across the board.
Onana tests his injury on the sideline and it quickly becomes clear he can’t continue. Early blow for Belgium, with Vanaken coming on.
That was an awkward fall for Onana, who looked like he twisted his knee. He limps off the field but unclear if he can continue.
The U.S. is looking hesitant on the ball and without it. This is easily the worst we’ve seen from this group at the World Cup so far.
The U.S. is stunned! Raskin is alert to a 50-50 ball in the box and no defender steps to him. Then he gets off a good low cross that De Ketelaere taps into an empty net. It’s been a poor start for the U.S. and they’ve been punished.
The U.S. gets a HUGE break as Tielemans completely whiffs on a golden opportunity.
That was a big moment for Freese, who had plenty of question marks before the tournament and hasn’t been tested much thus far.
Freese goes full extension to deny Castagne from outside of the box just a minute into the game. That may be his best save of the tournament so far.
We are underway here in Seattle!
Where to watch USA soccer vs Belgium
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The USMNT is unchanged from the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning Folarin Balogun goes straight into the lineup, as expected.
Goalkeeper
Matt Freese
Defenders
Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson
Midfielders
Malik Tillman, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie
Attack
Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia has somewhat surprisingly benched Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, opting instead to start Dodi Lukébakio, who scored a brace against the U.S. in their March friendly.
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois
Defenders
Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper
Midfielders
Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin
Attack
Dodi Lukébakio, Charles de Ketelaere, Leandro Trossard
After both anthems and a flyover, it is show time here in Seattle!
We have a pre-game rendition of John Denver’s classic that has been all over this tournament. But why does the USA play ‘Country Roads’ at the World Cup? Read here.
With 20 minutes until the game starts, Lumen Field has almost no empty seats. This crowd is ready.
The USA lineup is announced and Folarin Balogun gets by far the loudest cheer from the crowd here in Seattle.
These teams played only a few months ago, with Belgium hammering the U.S. 5-2 in a friendly in Atlanta. Dodi Lukébakio came off the bench to score a brace for Belgium, which could help explain his start today.
The U.S. enters the field for warm-ups to “Enter Sandman” and the crowd here in Seattle is LOUD. This will once again be a very pro-U.S. crowd.
The USA-Belgium game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.
The round of 16 match is being held at Lumen Field in Seattle.
The winner of the U.S. vs. Belgium will take on Spain in the quarterfinals.
Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in the early game Monday. Mikel Merino scored the game’s lone goal late to eliminate star Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
- Seth Vertelney: USA 2-0 Belgium – The U.S. was looking like a slight favorite even before Folarin Balogun’s suspension was stunningly overturned. Now with the momentum and their star striker back, the U.S. should keep rolling
- Jon Arnold: USA 2-1 Belgium (AET) – The ghosts of 2014 are vanquished as a disciplined U.S. team gets attacking contributions from all over the field and Chris Richards does enough to keep Belgium to just the one.
- Jesse Yomtov: USA 0 – 2 Belgium (AET) – Folarin Balogun will play but Kevin De Bruyne will show he’s still elite and pick apart the USMNT defense.
- Victoria Hernandez: USA 1-2 Belgium – Lukaku continues to provide just enough spark for Belgium even as USMNT will be fired up with Balogun playing.
The USMNT will wear its all-navy blue uniforms in the round of 16 against Belgium.
The Belgians will wear their alternate white, turquoise and pink kits.
Keep up to date on the latest developments in a fast-moving story.
Full rosters for 2026 World Cup teams
Round of 16
- July 4: France def Paraguay – Philadelphia
- July 4: Morocco def Canada – Houston
- July 5: Norway def Brazil – East Rutherford
- July 5: England def Mexico – Mexico City
- July 6: Spain def Portugal – Arlington
- July 6: USA vs. Belgium – Seattle – shop tickets
- July 7: Argentina vs. Egypt – Atlanta – shop tickets
- July 7: Switzerland vs. Colombia – Vancouver – shop tickets
USA striker Folarin Balogun is expected to be in the lineup vs. Belgium after FIFA controversially overturned his automatic one-game suspension for a red card against Bosnia in the round of 32.
Most thought Balogun’s red card was harsh but the firestorm surrounds the fact that Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to lobby for the ban to be removed.
In a statement Monday, Infantino denied Trump having any impact on the disciplinary proceedings.
Quarterfinals
- July 9: France vs. Morocco – Foxborough
- July 10: Spain vs. USA/BEL – Inglewood
- July 11: Norway vs. England – Miami
- July 11: ARG/EGY vs. SWI/COL – Kansas City
Monday’s match in Seattle begins at 5 p.m. PT.
Belgium has never won the World Cup and its best-ever finish was third place in 2018.
The USA has never won the World Cup. Its best finish came at the inaugural event in 1930 when the team came in third place.
